Comment on "Exam time raises hard questions" (China Daily, July 9)

All eight gaokao champions wear glasses. To be a top student in China, children have to stare at books and learning materials for a long time everyday, which may easily damage their eyesight. It is too big a price to pay.

In other countries, students are evaluated on other criteria, such as their contribution to the community. This may be a better gauge of long-term success than marks on paper. I hope one day China can move in the same direction, and leave behind such a narrow version of what constitutes "success".

Anita, on China Daily website

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(China Daily 07/11/2012 page9)